American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Numbers 21
1
And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelled in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.
Reference
📍 Locations
2
And Israel vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.
Reference
3
And the LORD listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.
Reference
4
And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
Reference
5
And the people spoke against God, and against Moses, Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loathes this light bread.
Reference
6
And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 10:9
Deuteronomy 8:15
Isaiah 30:6
Isaiah 14:29
References Lord
Jeremiah 8:17
7
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against you; pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 78:34
Prayer
Acts 8:24
Numbers 11:2
1 Kings 13:6
References Lord
Exodus 8:8
Exodus 8:28
8
And the LORD said to Moses, Make you a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looks on it, shall live.
Reference
9
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it on a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Reference
Creation
2 Kings 18:4
2 Corinthians 5:21
Parallel theme
Hebrews 12:2
John 6:40
John 12:32
Isaiah 45:22
Romans 8:3
Romans 1:17
Zechariah 12:10
1 John 3:8
10
And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth.
📍 Oboth
11
And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ijeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sun rise.
📍 Locations
12
From there they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zared.
📍 Valley of Zered
13
From there they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that comes out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
Reference
📍 Arnon
14
Why it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon,
📍 Locations
15
And at the stream of the brooks that goes down to the dwelling of Ar, and lies on the border of Moab.
Reference
📍 Ar
16
And from there they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spoke to Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.
Reference
📍 Beer
Parallel theme
Numbers 20:8
Isaiah 12:3
Revelation 21:6
Revelation 22:1
Revelation 22:17
Isaiah 43:20
Judges 9:21
Isaiah 49:10
John 4:10
References Moses
Exodus 17:6
17
Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing you to it:
18
The princes dig the well, the nobles of the people dig it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah:
📍 Mattanah
19
And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel to Bamoth:
📍 Locations
20
And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looks toward Jeshimon.
Reference
📍 Locations
Parallel theme
Numbers 23:28
22
Let me pass through your land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king's high way, until we be past your borders.
Reference
Kingdom
Numbers 20:17
23
And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
Reference
📍 Jahaz
References Israel
Judges 11:20
24
And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon to Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.
Reference
📍 Arnon
25
And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.
📍 Heshbon
26
For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even to Arnon.
📍 Locations
People
27
Why they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:
📍 Heshbon
28
For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it has consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.
Reference
📍 Locations
Parallel theme
Numbers 21:15
29
Woe to you, Moab! you are undone, O people of Chemosh: he has given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity to Sihon king of the Amorites.
Reference
Kingdom
2 Kings 23:13
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 48:46
Judges 11:24
Jeremiah 48:7
1 Kings 11:33
1 Kings 11:7
30
We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even to Dibon, and we have laid them waste even to Nophah, which reaches to Medeba.
Reference
📍 Locations
31
Thus Israel dwelled in the land of the Amorites.
32
And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.
Reference
📍 Jazer
33
And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.
Reference
📍 Locations
People
34
And the LORD said to Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into your hand, and all his people, and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelled at Heshbon.
Reference
📍 Heshbon
References Lord
Joshua 8:7
35
So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.
Summary of Numbers 21
Numbers Chapter 21 contains many events that take place as Israel journeys towards the promised land. They fight the king of Arad, complain yet again about their circumstances in the wilderness, are plagued with fiery serpents, and are healed when gazing upon the bronze serpent. The chapter later follows Israel's victories over many kings as they draw near to the promised land.
The chapter opens up to the king of Arad, a Canaanite king in the Negev, who hears about Israel's arrival by the way of Atharim. He goes out and attacks the Israelites, capturing some of them. In response to this, Israel makes a vow to the Lord. They say that if the Lord will indeed deliver the Canaanites into their hand, then they will utterly destroy their cities.
God hears their prayer and delivers the Canaanites into Israel's hand. They destroy the cities and call the place Hormah, a name that means "doubt." This was significant because Israel had attempted to go up to Canaan before in their journey, but they had been defeated. Now, as they travel according to the direction of the Lord, they finally experience victory in battle.
After leaving Mount Hor, Israel heads towards the Red Sea in order to bypass the land of Edom. The journey is arduous, and the people begin to gripe against God and Moses yet again. They complain that there is no bread, no water, and that they are tired of the manna that God is giving them.
Their complaining leads to God's judgment. He sends fiery serpents among the people, and many are bitten and die. The people recognize this is God's judgment and plead with Moses, saying that they have sinned against the Lord and against Moses. Moses prays for the people, and God instructs him to make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole, and anyone who has been bitten may look upon it and live.
Moses makes the serpent of brass and puts it on the pole, and everyone who has been bitten looks upon it and receives healing. It should be noted that the mere brass serpent did not heal them, but looking upon it as the instrument of God's healing brought them life.
This story was one of the most notable miracles during Israel's wilderness wanderings, and the healing power of the brass serpent became legendary. In a sense, the people got what they asked for, but God also showed mercy to them. Israel had brought the judgment upon themselves through their murmuring, but God provided a way of restoration to them through Moses.
Israel continues on their journey through the wilderness, and eventually come to a place where God provides them with water. They build up around the well and sing a song that praises the well and those who helped lead them to it. Israel continues on their journey to the north, and sends envoys to Sihon, the king of Amorites. They ask permission to pass through his land, as they had done with Edom before. They promise to keep to the King's Highway and not trespass into the fields or vineyards or take water from the wells.
Sihon refuses to let them pass through his land, and instead musters up his army and attacks them in the wilderness. Israel battles and defeats him, taking possession of his land from the river Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the borders of the Ammonites. They occupy in the cities of the Amorites, including Heshbon. A Song about Heshbon is recorded, and it recounts that Sihon had previously conquered the land of the Amorites from the people who had been driven out before him, but that Israel has now conquered it from him.
Israel then continues on to the land of Og, king of Bashan. Og comes out with his people to meet them at Edrei, but the Lord says to not be afraid, that He has delivered Og and all his people and his land into Israel's hand.
Israel defeats Og and his army, killing every man and taking possession of his land. This gives Israel a large amount of territory on the east of the Jordan River.
The victories over Sihon and Og were significant because it marked a change in Israel's wilderness wandering. They are no longer just meandering, but have a definite direction as God leads them towards the promised land, and have conquered the kings along the way. They have also gained them large territories that are east of the Jordan River, which will also come in handy to them later when crossing over into Canaan.
Numbers 21 is a chapter full of defeat and victories. Israel has once again grumbled against God and fallen afoul of His judgments, but God has also shown mercy to them and healed their judgments. They have gained victories over the kings who had opposed them, and have taken possession of their lands.
It should also be noted how quickly things can change in life. The Israelites had just been complaining and had fallen under judgment, but then they experienced God's mercy. They had been losing battles and avoiding the promised land, but suddenly they were victorious and conquering lands and cities. It was all by the power of God, and it was not by their own might, but by His Spirit empowering them.
By the end of the chapter, Israel has conquered Arad, Sihon, and Og. They have taken possession of lands east of the Jordan River, and are now beginning to see the promised land spread out before them. The wilderness journey is far from over, but the events of Numbers 21 show us how God has been working to bring them to their destination.
The chapter opens up to the king of Arad, a Canaanite king in the Negev, who hears about Israel's arrival by the way of Atharim. He goes out and attacks the Israelites, capturing some of them. In response to this, Israel makes a vow to the Lord. They say that if the Lord will indeed deliver the Canaanites into their hand, then they will utterly destroy their cities.
God hears their prayer and delivers the Canaanites into Israel's hand. They destroy the cities and call the place Hormah, a name that means "doubt." This was significant because Israel had attempted to go up to Canaan before in their journey, but they had been defeated. Now, as they travel according to the direction of the Lord, they finally experience victory in battle.
After leaving Mount Hor, Israel heads towards the Red Sea in order to bypass the land of Edom. The journey is arduous, and the people begin to gripe against God and Moses yet again. They complain that there is no bread, no water, and that they are tired of the manna that God is giving them.
Their complaining leads to God's judgment. He sends fiery serpents among the people, and many are bitten and die. The people recognize this is God's judgment and plead with Moses, saying that they have sinned against the Lord and against Moses. Moses prays for the people, and God instructs him to make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole, and anyone who has been bitten may look upon it and live.
Moses makes the serpent of brass and puts it on the pole, and everyone who has been bitten looks upon it and receives healing. It should be noted that the mere brass serpent did not heal them, but looking upon it as the instrument of God's healing brought them life.
This story was one of the most notable miracles during Israel's wilderness wanderings, and the healing power of the brass serpent became legendary. In a sense, the people got what they asked for, but God also showed mercy to them. Israel had brought the judgment upon themselves through their murmuring, but God provided a way of restoration to them through Moses.
Israel continues on their journey through the wilderness, and eventually come to a place where God provides them with water. They build up around the well and sing a song that praises the well and those who helped lead them to it. Israel continues on their journey to the north, and sends envoys to Sihon, the king of Amorites. They ask permission to pass through his land, as they had done with Edom before. They promise to keep to the King's Highway and not trespass into the fields or vineyards or take water from the wells.
Sihon refuses to let them pass through his land, and instead musters up his army and attacks them in the wilderness. Israel battles and defeats him, taking possession of his land from the river Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the borders of the Ammonites. They occupy in the cities of the Amorites, including Heshbon. A Song about Heshbon is recorded, and it recounts that Sihon had previously conquered the land of the Amorites from the people who had been driven out before him, but that Israel has now conquered it from him.
Israel then continues on to the land of Og, king of Bashan. Og comes out with his people to meet them at Edrei, but the Lord says to not be afraid, that He has delivered Og and all his people and his land into Israel's hand.
Israel defeats Og and his army, killing every man and taking possession of his land. This gives Israel a large amount of territory on the east of the Jordan River.
The victories over Sihon and Og were significant because it marked a change in Israel's wilderness wandering. They are no longer just meandering, but have a definite direction as God leads them towards the promised land, and have conquered the kings along the way. They have also gained them large territories that are east of the Jordan River, which will also come in handy to them later when crossing over into Canaan.
Numbers 21 is a chapter full of defeat and victories. Israel has once again grumbled against God and fallen afoul of His judgments, but God has also shown mercy to them and healed their judgments. They have gained victories over the kings who had opposed them, and have taken possession of their lands.
It should also be noted how quickly things can change in life. The Israelites had just been complaining and had fallen under judgment, but then they experienced God's mercy. They had been losing battles and avoiding the promised land, but suddenly they were victorious and conquering lands and cities. It was all by the power of God, and it was not by their own might, but by His Spirit empowering them.
By the end of the chapter, Israel has conquered Arad, Sihon, and Og. They have taken possession of lands east of the Jordan River, and are now beginning to see the promised land spread out before them. The wilderness journey is far from over, but the events of Numbers 21 show us how God has been working to bring them to their destination.